
Fantasy Summary
Fleet-footed defender offers a strong transitional game.
Observations
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May 2022 – Rafferty put forth a strong year with San Diego, but was never called up to the big club. At the age of 26, his slim window has probably closed. – Dobber
July 2021 – As expected, Rafferty, who was not given his day in Vancouver, has officially signed a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks. Dave Hall
June 2021 – Despite finishing third in defenceman scoring with 45 points in his first and only AHL campaign, Rafferty has yet to be given a true sniff at the NHL level. He spent the 2020-21 season glued to the club’s Taxi Squad, slotting in for just a single game during that time. He registered an assist but failed to impress the coaching enough to warrant a second look. There is obvious frustration at the moment, given that he was promised an opportunity when he signed as an NCAA free agent. Obviously, with just a single game on his resume, despite a struggling defensive core, that shot has yet to be given. The now 26-year-old will have the option of walking away in search of consistent NHL game action. Dave Hall
March 2020 – Rafferty concluded his first career pro season by producing 45 points in 57 games. That mark led all first-year blueliners and sat third overall for defenders in the AHL. The soon-to-be 25-year-old is nearly a finished product at this point. With the Canucks in tough to qualify or extend RFA, Troy Stecher this summer, Rafferty may just have his opportunity to see third-pairing minutes in 2020-21. His skillset will be useful on the man-advantage. He could be a sneaky depth add in draft next fall. Cam Robinson
December 2019 – It’s been one hell of a start to a professional career for the 24-year-old. Rafferty has stepped right into the AHL and been impactful. His 22 points in 27 contests lead all blueliners and he’s been showcasing the great skating and play-creation on a nightly basis. The late-bloomer is proving he was worth the free-agent contract and appears close to earning an NHL look in the New Year. For a club lacking in defensive prospects, Rafferty is making a push for the top of the heap despite joining the organization with a dearth of fanfare. Cam Robinson
April 2019 – The right-shot blueliner completed his third season at Quinnipiac and signed a one-year entry-level deal with the Canucks – the max length for a player his age. He’ll become a restricted free agent on July 1st. Rafferty played forward until his draft-eligible campaign before shifting to the blueline. He was also late to develop physically, as he stood 5’6 until around that time as well. This season, the late-bloomer posted an NCAA career-high in goals (4) and penalty minutes (60) while matching his freshman point total of 24 points. Expect the soon-to-be 24-year-old to see an NHL game or two in this last week of play. Cam Robinson
Stats
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | TP | PIM | Playoffs | GP | G | A | TP | PIM | |
2012-2013 | Team Illinois 18U AAA | HPHL 18U | 31 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | | | ||||||
Kansas City Scouts | NAHL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | | | |||||||
2013-2014 | Coulee Region Chill | NAHL | 53 | 3 | 19 | 22 | 55 | | | ||||||
2014-2015 | Coulee Region Chill | NAHL | 56 | 4 | 28 | 32 | 50 | | | Playoffs | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
2015-2016 | Central Illinois Flying Aces | USHL | 60 | 2 | 26 | 28 | 30 | | | Playoffs | 10 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 4 |
2016-2017 | Quinnipiac Univ. | NCAA | 40 | 2 | 22 | 24 | 18 | | | ||||||
2017-2018 | Quinnipiac Univ. | NCAA | 38 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 22 | | | ||||||
2018-2019 | Quinnipiac Univ. | NCAA | 38 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 60 | | |